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Metcalf controls the paint in Lady Plainsmen win over Wa-Pa

By Pastor Vince CarrigSports Writer Shania Metcalf’s second power spin in the lane put the finishing touches on the Lady Plainsmen’s 38-28 win over Wauneta-Palisade Friday night in Grant. Metcalf and fellow senior Michi Prante co-starred for Perkins County, with each collecting nine points. Prante snuck in the back door for a basket and intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter to bank the Lady Plainsmen’s sixth win in seven games. Lady Broncos reserve guard Sydney Harchelroad tidied the visitors’ side of the scoreboard with a put-back and three pointer late in the fourth quarter; Metcalf’s last point thrust Perkins County to an insurmountable 38-20 lead. Secondary scoring from Courtney McClenahan—especially her two baskets (one right after the other) right at the backboard in the third quarter allowed the Lady Plainsmen to put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter. McClenahan left on a stretcher with 3:07 left in the third quarter after a nasty, forceful collision with Wauneta-Palisade’s Hannah Nordhausen in Perkins County’s defensive lane. “The girls demonstrated great focus down the stretch, despite distractions of mind and heart, and finished the game with class,” Perkins County Head Coach Deanne Bishop said after the game. “My seniors did an excellent job of finishing strong and were leaders for the rest of the team.” The second 8-0 run in as many quarters tamed the Lady Broncos, as the fall-away jumper Matisyn Humphrey swished bucked Perkins County ahead 28-13 in the third frame. The second burst featured Michi Prante dropping in a mid-range jumper and using a steal and shot to set up McClenahan twice. Sophomore forward Courtney Ostermiller helped send Perkins County to halftime with a 20-12 lead, creating her own space to stop-pop-and-drop six feet away from the basket at the right baseline. Metcalf spun and struck from right in front of the basket and hit a free throw in an 8-0 Lady Plainsmen second quarter run that put some distance between the teams, jumping their lead to 14-5. Turnovers and missed shots kept the first quarter’s output low—just nine points between the teams. Center Tailor Lee’s two blocked shots helped limit Perkins County to just two field goals in the first eight minutes. Junior guard Abbie Fanning grabbed a steal at mid-court and cashed it in to cut the Lady Plainsmen lead to 6-5; Fanning outscored her teammates in the second quarter and for the game with eight points, none of which began a comeback.Next Action The 7-6 Lady Plainsmen opened the South Platte Valley Association conference tournament with a rematch against the 3-12 Chase County Lady Longhorns on Tuesday night; coverage to follow in the next issue. The winner of that game must play 10-3 Hershey (who beat Perkins County 43-30 early in the year) on Friday. The tournament ends with a medal round on Saturday at Mid Plains Community College’s North Platte (south) campus.Wau/Pa. 28, PC 38Wau/Pa. 3 9 4 12—28Perkins Co. 6 14 10 8—38 Scoring leaders—Perkins County: Metcalf 4FG 1/2FT—9; Prante 3 3/5—9; McClenahan 3 1/2—7; Wauneta-Palisade: Fanning 4—8; Lee, T. 1 3/10—5; Harchelroad 1 (1[x3])—5.